Grip strength, muscle soreness and pain threshold perception evolution in baseball pitchers in a simulated 75-pitch game: a repeated measures study

Background/aim In baseball pitching, neuromuscular fatigue and its manifestations on muscle strength, muscle soreness and pain perception affect pitching performance. The purpose of this study was to quantify the evolution of grip strength, muscle soreness and pain threshold perception and pitching...

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Main Authors: Martin Descarreaux, Mathieu Tremblay, Samuel Anderson Sirois, Jacques Abboud
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2025-03-01
Series:BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine
Online Access:https://bmjopensem.bmj.com/content/11/1/e002146.full
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author Martin Descarreaux
Mathieu Tremblay
Samuel Anderson Sirois
Jacques Abboud
author_facet Martin Descarreaux
Mathieu Tremblay
Samuel Anderson Sirois
Jacques Abboud
author_sort Martin Descarreaux
collection DOAJ
description Background/aim In baseball pitching, neuromuscular fatigue and its manifestations on muscle strength, muscle soreness and pain perception affect pitching performance. The purpose of this study was to quantify the evolution of grip strength, muscle soreness and pain threshold perception and pitching velocity in baseball pitchers throughout a simulated 75-pitch game.Methods 30 high-level amateur male baseball pitchers were recruited. Repeated measure analysis of covariance with age as a covariate (p<0.05) was used to identify significant differences across blocks of pitches for grip strength, muscle soreness, pain threshold perception and pitching velocity.Results Dominant arm grip strength (55.67±12.32 kg to 48.62±12.25 kg ; −12.66%) and pitching velocity (119.87±8.00 km/hour to 118.75±6.90 km/hour ; −0.93%) declined while muscle soreness perception increased in dominant arm forearm flexors (1.65±1.16 to 4.19±2.02 ; 25.38%), biceps (1.81±1.39 to 4.31±1.85 ; 25%) and non-dominant arm forearm flexors (1.38±1.10 to 2.12±1.63 ; 7.31%) across the pitching blocks (p<0.05).Conclusion In summary, a pitch count of 75 fastball pitches triggered an acute decline in grip strength combined with an increase in muscle soreness perception of the throwing arm in baseball pitchers.
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spelling doaj-art-dfcd786cc6bd459b90192fcdcafa9d8d2025-08-20T03:00:01ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine2055-76472025-03-0111110.1136/bmjsem-2024-002146Grip strength, muscle soreness and pain threshold perception evolution in baseball pitchers in a simulated 75-pitch game: a repeated measures studyMartin Descarreaux0Mathieu Tremblay1Samuel Anderson Sirois2Jacques Abboud3Human Kinetics, Universite du Quebec a Trois-Rivieres, Trois-Rivières, Québec, CanadaHuman Kinetics, Universite du Quebec a Trois-Rivieres, Trois-Rivières, Québec, CanadaHuman Kinetics, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, Québec, CanadaHuman Kinetics, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, Québec, CanadaBackground/aim In baseball pitching, neuromuscular fatigue and its manifestations on muscle strength, muscle soreness and pain perception affect pitching performance. The purpose of this study was to quantify the evolution of grip strength, muscle soreness and pain threshold perception and pitching velocity in baseball pitchers throughout a simulated 75-pitch game.Methods 30 high-level amateur male baseball pitchers were recruited. Repeated measure analysis of covariance with age as a covariate (p<0.05) was used to identify significant differences across blocks of pitches for grip strength, muscle soreness, pain threshold perception and pitching velocity.Results Dominant arm grip strength (55.67±12.32 kg to 48.62±12.25 kg ; −12.66%) and pitching velocity (119.87±8.00 km/hour to 118.75±6.90 km/hour ; −0.93%) declined while muscle soreness perception increased in dominant arm forearm flexors (1.65±1.16 to 4.19±2.02 ; 25.38%), biceps (1.81±1.39 to 4.31±1.85 ; 25%) and non-dominant arm forearm flexors (1.38±1.10 to 2.12±1.63 ; 7.31%) across the pitching blocks (p<0.05).Conclusion In summary, a pitch count of 75 fastball pitches triggered an acute decline in grip strength combined with an increase in muscle soreness perception of the throwing arm in baseball pitchers.https://bmjopensem.bmj.com/content/11/1/e002146.full
spellingShingle Martin Descarreaux
Mathieu Tremblay
Samuel Anderson Sirois
Jacques Abboud
Grip strength, muscle soreness and pain threshold perception evolution in baseball pitchers in a simulated 75-pitch game: a repeated measures study
BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine
title Grip strength, muscle soreness and pain threshold perception evolution in baseball pitchers in a simulated 75-pitch game: a repeated measures study
title_full Grip strength, muscle soreness and pain threshold perception evolution in baseball pitchers in a simulated 75-pitch game: a repeated measures study
title_fullStr Grip strength, muscle soreness and pain threshold perception evolution in baseball pitchers in a simulated 75-pitch game: a repeated measures study
title_full_unstemmed Grip strength, muscle soreness and pain threshold perception evolution in baseball pitchers in a simulated 75-pitch game: a repeated measures study
title_short Grip strength, muscle soreness and pain threshold perception evolution in baseball pitchers in a simulated 75-pitch game: a repeated measures study
title_sort grip strength muscle soreness and pain threshold perception evolution in baseball pitchers in a simulated 75 pitch game a repeated measures study
url https://bmjopensem.bmj.com/content/11/1/e002146.full
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AT samuelandersonsirois gripstrengthmusclesorenessandpainthresholdperceptionevolutioninbaseballpitchersinasimulated75pitchgamearepeatedmeasuresstudy
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